title: Raman spectroscopic documentation of Oligocene bladder stone.
abstract: Discovery of a fossil (30-35 million-year-old) urolith from Early Oligocene deposits in northeastern Colorado provides the earliest evidence for the antiquity of bladder stones. These are spherical objects with a layered phosphatic structure and a hollow center. Each layer is composed of parallel crystals oriented perpendicular to the surface. Macroscopic and microscopic examination and X-ray diffraction analysis, along with comparison with 1,000 contemporary uroliths, were used as evidence in the confirmation of this diagnosis. Raman microspectroscopy verified the presence of organic material between layers, confirming its biologic origin.
authors.affiliation: Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA. bmr@ku.edu
authors.forename: Bruce M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Rothschild
authors.forename: Larry D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Alison Olcott
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Craig P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005580:Fossils; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D001744:Urinary Bladder Calculi / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction